Review: Desertfest Vol. 6 – Avon / Waxy 7”

German label H42 Records thought up the idea of releasing a 2-band split single for the Desertfest a few years back and already they are up to volume 6. Like previous years, it’s a limited run on vinyl and they’re not around for long. What makes this one even more unique is the fact that the festival fell victim to the Covid-19 pandemic and never actually happened.

Like previous years singles, I have no real idea how they pick the bands and neither of them were actually playing the festival this year, but when you mention the bands Avon and Waxy, you cannot but think of the Californian desert.

Avon’s track Men of Medan starts with a catchy hook of a riff that keeps returning throughout the next 3 minutes. They have that stoner rock vibe to the songs but their twist on it has a stripped back feeling as though it’s been jammed out there and then. The now 5-piece have the ability to write a song in the classic rock style, backed up with some cool vocal harmonies and when they throw in some guitar solo work, its top draw stuff. Let’s hope the follow up to Dave’s Dungeon isn’t too far away

Flip the record and you have a new song from Waxy, “It’s No Mistake”. Waxy manage to give off a laid back vibe whilst still having that more dangerous punk edge to them. The vocals have a certain harmony to them that is distinctly Californian desert and they flow nicely with what I can best describe as garage rock mixed with very early Queen of the Stone Age. Waxy have worked and played alongside many of the legends of the desert, and you can feel all these influences mixed with their own unique twist. They released their 5^th album, Better on Forgetting, last year and it didn’t get the push or recognition it deserved, so make sure you also get looking for that too.

Again, H42 Records have produced a cool looking package that follows on again with Alexander von Weiding’s killer artwork. The press included 150 red Waxy edition, 150 gold Avon edition and 25 test presses on black. Get to it as I doubt they will be available for long.

H42 Records – Avon – Waxy